317 federal observers sent to 9 states to monitor electionsNovember 6, 2000

Before reading, can you guess which state is not on this list?

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The federal government is sending 317 observers to nine states to ensure voting rights of minority groups protected in Tuesday's general elections.

The Justice Department announced that under the Voting Rights Act it has dispatched observers to monitor balloting in parts of Alabama, Arizona, California, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and Utah.

The 317 observers requested by the Justice Department's civil rights division are supplied by the Office of Personnel Management. The observers are instructed to watch and record activities during voting hours. Meanwhile, 45 Justice Department personnel coordinate the activities and maintain contact with local election officials.

One Justice Department attorney has been sent to Flint, Michigan, and another to Fort Worth, Texas, to respond to unspecified election-related concerns.